Carpets are a symbol of wealth and art as well as one of the oldest inventions of decoration

12.10.2018 15:12

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Carpets, a symbol of wealth and art as well as one of the oldest inventions of decoration and insulation of houses, are produced at this enterprise. The Samarkand silk carpet factory is well known for its amazing carpets not only in Uzbekistan but also abroad. Visitors can either purchase handmade masterpieces of the ancient craft or learn the secrets of carpet weaving. Tools such as threads, comb, hook and scissors are used to manufacture complex Central Asian ornaments.

GULNOZ SHUKUROVA, FACTORY MANAGER:

- It is necessary to tie a knot in order to make a handmade carpet. We use double knots, which are tied in two bases and this type of knot is considered very strong. Carpets are made at different times and depend on a number of knots made on the carpet and on the complexity of the pattern. It takes around two months to 1.5 years in order to weave approximately one square meter carpet.

Making silk carpets is a long and laborious process. The pile is manually woven into the base, where a thread is tied in a knot. In this factory, workers can tie up to 45 knots per minute. Deadlines of manufacturing the carpets depend on the size and complexity of the pattern. Today, handmade carpets are highly valued throughout the world.

KHOJI SUAT TURDI BOATKHISY, CO-FOUNDER OF FACTORY:

- These carpets can be used for a very long time. They aren’t worn out and the colour doesn't shade over time. We give them 50 years warranty. At the end of the 19th century, the technology for making hand-woven carpets was lost and was revived again only 25 years ago. Now, this art is developing in cities such as Samarkand and Khiva. Up to 400 carpets are made per year.

A visit to the Samarkand factory has become part of a large-scale tour in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Kazakh Tourism with the support of the Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Sports has become an organizer of this transnational information tour with the participation of Kazakh travel bloggers and journalists. The main goal of the project is to reveal the rich heritage of the region. Traditions of the ancient craft are being revived in Kazakhstan. Next year, areas of carpet weaving enterprises will be opened in Turkestan and Almaty regions.